Bellevue Massage School

I came to this school as a transfer student. Out of all the schools I contacted in the area, this one blew me away in terms of knowledge of requirements, very easy and quick communication from the director and made me feel like they were truly there to help versus just get my money. The classroom experience was also excellent. Very personal attention and laid back healing atmosphere. They are without a doubt there to support and facilitate you getting your license quickly and easily as a transfer.

Amazing service for transfer students! I contacted Bellevue Massage School as I was preparing to move from Illinois to Washington, but needed a Washington state board approved school to approve my transcripts and give me their seal of approval. The staff was quick to respond and very helpful. They gave me an in depth overview of everything I needed to get in order to transfer my license to Washington and helped me out every step. I met with the Director and she sent in my paperwork the same day, and gave me some excellent feed back on my bodywork. I am so grateful for them for making the process of transferring my license so quick and painless!

If you’re relocating to Washington State…
…and need help with transferring credits, I highly recommend Bellevue Massage School. I called many schools — and met with people at several. BMS was the only one who went thru my transcripts with me line-​by-​line to ensure I met the state guidelines before submitting my application. (A hands-​on «evaluation» massage is also required — as it should be.)
The stringent requirements of Washington state can be overwhelming. I am grateful to Bellevue Massage School for «walking me through it».

I think this place has seen it’s Glory Days come and go. When I toured they had just lost long time instructors and they were transitioning. I was told I would be in a class of only 3 or 4 but the downside was that I would be the only English speaking person in the group of students and I should try to buddy up with the day class. Well, that didn’t work for me seeing as I work during the day! After calling some clinics and spa’s in the surrounding areas and even some Chiro’s offices to get their opinions of schools and students’ skill after graduation, etc… this place was not recommended.
The rooms were good size, plenty of parking for the commuting student, the curriculum is sound and reputable, instructors are new (from what I saw and was told) the student clinic area was tidy and organized and welcoming… although the actual clinic rooms felt like an afterthought. Also, the spa course is only available by request if they have enough students ask for it, I wanted to learn that without having to request it which is important to some and not at all to others, but for me I didn’t want to spend 10k and only get basic modalities. Other schools are offering more modalities for the same cost.
I will say that my timing and experience is perhaps unique to others just because of when I was enrolling and the night class I was enrolling in, unlike the day class. Because of that, I did not choose this school. However, I feel if you chose this school you would get a good education. I just feel there are better schools that have a deeper curriculum with instructors that teach their specialty and aren’t just «filling in» until they find a permanent instructor.
Good luck!

I toured this school as a potential student, and was unimpressed. They had lost two of the best teachers upon which the school had built their reputation, and their classroom materials were based on over-​photocopied handouts (there are plenty of fabulous and current texts out there for massage schooling). The graduates and students that I spoke to seemed to be okay, but they described their education as an ordeal to overcome rather than as an inspiration. They spent more time apologizing for the inadequacies of their school than singing its praises. Not a single student I spoke to said anything academically wonderful about any of their teachers remaining who hadn’t left the school recently, the best praise I heard was that one of the women faculty members was «really nice.»
I attended an introductory evening. The teacher was one of the faculty at Bellevue Massage School. She couldn’t remember all of the categories of Swedish massage: she left out petrissage, and told us to refer to the handout that we were given. It wasn’t a good handout.
I was surprised to find that the area of the introductory session was actually the primary classroom area. The carpet needed cleaning and some of the furnishings were getting worn down, probably from all the shuffling they endure: this school doesn’t have a separate lab, the students have to put away the folding chairs and folding tables and set up massage stations in order to do hands-​on practice. The chairs and tables were not the kind you’d want to be using on a regular basis. You’d think a massage school would promote better ergonomics than that.
The admissions agent was pushy and used high-​pressure sales tactics. She’d threaten me that I had to give money now (with no time to think it over) because the class was almost full, then call me several days later to tell me that there was lots of space. Either she was lying as a sales tactic or people were changing their minds. Neither would be good signs.
I can understand a higher-​priced massage school if there is something about the school that merits it. Great teachers? Not right now. A longer program? Nope, they only teach the minimum hours here. A well-​equipped classroom or lab? No, indeed. A philosophy of instruction about which they are passionate? No. The best justification I could get for the pricey tuition from the admissions director was the «family atmosphere» and that «they care.» I wonder if someone is bleeding this business for money, unless the building they rent in is expensive, I don’t see where they’re putting the tuition that students are paying.
I do think that they turn out decent graduates, but it seems that this school is in decline right now, Three stars instead of two because the graduates and students that I met seem hardworking and seemed to have gotten something out of making it through this school’s program successfully.

If you are looking for small classes in a locally owned massage school, this is your place. James Schmidt does a great job of running this small yet extensive program. The teachers are talented and dedicated. Their student clinic is an excellent preparation for post graduate work. The program covers Swedish massage in depth and has exposure to many modalities like Touch for Health, Pregnancy Massage, Thai Massage, Oriental Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, Sports Massage, Reflexology and much more. I am a graduate of this program and I had conducted extensive research on the Seattle area schools before signing up with BMS. I made the right choice with this program.